Diplomatic Lie

David Fleming
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(1) An essential lie to protect a person against an enemy.
Example: lying to the Gestapo about the presence of Jews in the attic.

(2) A way of maintaining privacy against intrusive enquiry.

(3) An essential lie to protect a person from hurt.
Example: “No, I did not see your wife going off with Fred at closing time.”

(4) A temporary way out of trouble.
Example: “No, I did not go off with your wife at closing time.”

(5) The sort of lie which you tell (aka a white lie). Other people’s lies are plain lies.

 

Related entries:

Self-Deception, Truth.

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David Fleming
Dr David Fleming (2 January 1940 – 29 November 2010) was a cultural historian and economist, based in London, England. He was among the first to reveal the possibility of peak oil's approach and invented the influential TEQs scheme, designed to address this and climate change. He was also a pioneer of post-growth economics, and a significant figure in the development of the UK Green Party, the Transition Towns movement and the New Economics Foundation, as well as a Chairman of the Soil Association. His wide-ranging independent analysis culminated in two critically acclaimed books, 'Lean Logic' and 'Surviving the Future', published posthumously in 2016. These in turn inspired the 2020 launches of both BAFTA-winning director Peter Armstrong's feature film about Fleming's perspective and legacy - 'The Sequel: What Will Follow Our Troubled Civilisation?' - and Sterling College's unique 'Surviving the Future: Conversations for Our Time' online courses. For more information on all of the above, including Lean Logic, click the little globe below!

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